News
Law makers and law breakers
View(s):Election law prohibits the display of cutouts, banners and conduct of processions once nominations close.
Displaying cutouts after nominations closed is prohibited by law. Here UPFA supporters in Colombo carry a cutout of no lesser person than the president himself
Nevertheless almost all parties went on to violate the law no sooner nominations closed on Thursday.
Soon after nominations closed, supporters of all political parties were seen parading the streets at the District Secretariat offices in the six districts of the southern and western provinces where the provincial councils elections will be held. All this in brazen violation of election law, while the police stood by idly.
Our cameramen captured some scenes in many parts of the Southern and Western Provinces shortly after nominations closed on Thursday.
In a few instances the police did take action to prevent protests, but in most instances the police refrained from preventing the conduct of processions.
In one particular incident in the south, a candidate dressed in the garb of a military officer not only ignored police orders prohibiting demonstrations, but even proceeded to push away the officer who attempted to stop him.
The Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) expressed concern over the trend.
 The reds or blues they all showed their contempt for law and order in Colombo |
 Coming events cast their shadow… if laws can be openly broken with impunity before one is elected, is there any doubt as to what will follow? -outside the District Secretariat in Colombo |
 Even the opposition showed they did not care for the law in Kalutara |
 This unruly candidate in Galle not only defied police orders prohibiting demonstrations, but went on to shove any policeman who attempted to block the demonstration. |